Zander

[bobby]

Has Anyone got any tips on catching zander? plz im going to be fishing the fens up norfolk in a couple of week's, and i would love to catch my first Zander, kerstsmiley
i went up there early this year or late last year and fished but i only caught a small pike of about a couple of pound. And what baits work best? Thanx Chaps.

[BUDGIE]

Hi Bobby,we dont do no Zander fishing here mate only Vander!!! (Sorry Carpy couldnt resist it mate!) ;D

I fish for Zander in very much the same way as I do for Pike.A lot of people just scale down their tackle with lighter rods,smaller hooks etc I think this really depends on the size of Zeds you are expecting to catch.Where andwhen I go after them I am targetting big fish (15lb+) so dont scale down at all! but if you are expecting the fish to average 4-5lb or so as is more the normal then just use 2-2 1/4lb TC carp rods and smaller (size 10 or 8) trebles.Other thasn that use the same methods etc as I desribe in the River Piking advice on this site, there are a few exceptions though.

Zeds are even more intolerant to resistance than Pike so I make sure that resistance is kept to a minimum.Because of this I always fish with an open bail arm and drop arm indicator.I also dont use the standard sunken float paternoster rig that I use for Pike.Much prefering a free running version like the one shown below.



As for bait I have never found sea deadbaits to be any good much prefering live baits or FRESH coarse deads.Note I say fresh as the only frozen coarse bait I rate is eel section.

Unlike Pike I prefer coloured water conditions and night fishing for Zander.

Hope that helps a bit.Any other questions just ask and I will help if I can.

[Carpy]

Vander missed that. thanks for pointing it out BUDGIE.

[Andrew Burgess]

I am looking at Zander fishing next early summer nights at Coombe Abbey Lake, Binley, Warwickshire. It is a 80 acre lake but only access to 40 Acre, There are Pike to 27lb, Some Zander to 19lb 2oz. and it has the potential for a record could come from here, angler's use remote control boats to get their baits too long distances, small deadbaits score best. It is advisable to have a trolley for your tackle, as you can expect a long walk to various swims.

A related topic on this lake is on this link

fjames.proboards6.com/index.cgi?board=donate&action=display&n=1&thread=1095009915&start=0

[Carpy]

great venue, will have to go with you Andrew. looks fantastic, Never caught a zander.
Got it right this time.
cheers budgie. Can come too.

[Andrew Burgess]

Carpy said:

will have to go with you Andrew. looks fantastic, Never caught a zander.

It won't be until late summer or early autum Carpy.

I am fully booked up ;D on my predator fishing on my other local water ;D

[Carpy]

No probs Andrew.  kerstsmiley your a busy man.
take the hint. biggrinsanta

[BUDGIE]

I wouldnt mind doing a long week end up there after the Zander in the Autumn either.How much is a season ticket so you can night fish? Great info on the other thread by the way bruv.

[Andrew Burgess]

BUDGIE said:

I wouldnt mind doing a long week end up there after the Zander in the Autumn either.How much is a season ticket so you can night fish?

£34 Season ( required if you want to night fish ), £3.50 day tickets on the bank.